Iran ranks 1st in barberry production in world:
Official 

Iran is the top producer of barberry in the world with an
annual production of about 92,000 tons, the director-general of Cold and Dry
Fruits Affairs Department of the Agriculture Ministry said. 

"Iran currently holds the first place in the world in
production of barberry, the second in production of pistachios, the third in
production of apples, walnuts, cherries, raisins, apricots, peaches and
nectarines, and the fifth in production of almonds and plums. Iran also ranks
seventh and eighth in production of grapes and cherries and hazelnut,
respectively," Dariyoush Salempour said on Sunday. 

He added, "Statistics show that about 92,000 tons of
barberries are cultivated annually on 20,000 hectares of land, 240,000 tons of
pistachios on more than 500,000 hectares of land, 4 million tons of apples on
250,000 hectares of land, 270,000 tons of walnuts on 170,000 hectares of land,
3.4 million tons of grapes on 300,000 hectares of land, 340,000 tons of
cherries on 40,000 hectares and 140,000 tons of cherries on 25,000 hectares of
land across the country". 

 Barberry is one of
the most valuable agricultural products of Iran. It grows on bushes with
needle-shaped thorns and the wood is reddish brown covered with oval tiny
leaves. The bush blooms in late spring and early summer. Flower buds are yellow
which with turns to dark red in fall. In late autumn, small and sour fruit is
ready to be harvested.